The Erstwhile
{{short description|Dark Fantasy/Historical Fiction Novel by Brian Catling}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox book
|name = The Erstwhile
|image = File:The Erstwhile.jpg
|caption = First Edition
|alt =
|author = B. Catling
|country = United Kingdom
|language = English
|genre = {{Plainlist|
|publisher = Vintage Books
|release_date = March 7th, 2017
| media_type = Print
|pages = 480
|isbn = 978-1-1019-7272-4
| preceded_by = The Vorrh
| followed_by = The Cloven
}}
The Erstwhile is a dark historical fantasy novel by multi-disciplinary artist B. Catling that was first published in March of 2017.{{cite web|title=Goodreads (Book Entry)|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30689357-the-erstwhile|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Goodreads (Editions)|url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/51235149-the-erstwhile|accessdate=13 July 2019}} It is the second in a trilogy of novels focusing on 'the Vorrh,' a massive and magical African forest.
Critical reception
The Erstwhile received generally positive critical reception, garnering coverage from a wide variety of publications.{{cite web|title=The Guardian (Review)|website=TheGuardian.com|date=23 March 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/23/the-erstwhile-by-b-catling-review|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite news|title=NPR (Review)|newspaper=NPR|date=9 March 2017|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/03/09/515439312/myth-and-history-collide-in-the-erstwhile|accessdate=13 July 2019|last1=Heller|first1=Jason}}{{cite web|title=TOR (Review)|date=10 March 2017|url=https://www.tor.com/2017/03/10/the-answer-is-trees-the-erstwhile-by-brian-catling/|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Publishers Weekly (Review)|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-101-97272-4|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=SciFi Now (Review)|date=14 March 2017|url=https://www.scifinow.co.uk/reviews/the-erstwhile-by-b-catling-book-review/|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Electric Lit (Review)|date=4 May 2017|url=https://electricliterature.com/the-violent-and-unforgettable-world-of-brian-catling/|accessdate=13 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=New Statesman (Review)|date=12 March 2017|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/03/what-new-weird-and-what-makes-weird-fiction-so-relevant-our-times|accessdate=13 July 2019}}
By contrast, the review at Kirkus calls the book "slow and murky" and criticizes its relentless focus on imagery over plot, characterization, or theme.{{cite web|title=Kirkus (Review)|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/b-catling/the-erstwhile/|accessdate=13 July 2019}}
Editions
- {{cite book|title=The Erstwhile|edition=1st |publisher=Vintage Books|year=2017|isbn= 978-1-1019-7272-4}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Fantasy fiction}}
{{Historical fiction}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Erstwhile}}
Category:Historical fantasy novels
Category:British fantasy novels
{{2010s-fantasy-novel-stub}}